Italian Giancarlo Fisichella kept Renault's title rivals Ferrari off the top of the timesheets with the fastest lap in practice for the Japanese Grand Prix yesterday.
Fisichella, who will play a supporting role to team-mate Fernando Alonso tomorrow, lapped the Honda-owned circuit in one minute 34.337 seconds on a drying track after morning rain.
Brazilian Felipe Massa was second quickest, 0.071 slower, ahead of championship leader and Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher.
World champion Alonso was fourth after completing just five laps, half the number done by Schumacher - the man he must beat tomorrow.
Schumacher leads Alonso 7-6 on race wins after pulling level on 116 points with two rounds of the championship remaining. He can clinch a record eighth title tomorrow if he wins and the Spaniard fails to score.
Otherwise the drivers' title will be decided in Brazil on October 22. Champions Renault lead Ferrari by one point in the constructors' battle.
With the morning rain abating and sun coming out late in the session, teams effectively condensed their Friday programmes into the last 10 minutes, getting little more than a first impression.
"This was a normal Friday for me," Alonso told reporters.
"We did very little running because of the conditions but the R26 (car) felt good although there was a bit too much understeer everywhere."
Better weather
Schumacher, six times a winner at Suzuka in the past, took comfort from a weather forecast that suggested clear conditions for the weekend.
"The team is in very good spirits, concentrating on our work, and everything seems to be going well," the German said.
"As for qualifying, I think we will be fighting Renault for the top places on the grid."
The second session finally gave the crowd some big names to watch after a wet morning stint dominated by unsung third drivers who will not race tomorrow.
Honda test driver Anthony Davidson was quickest in the morning as Schumacher and Alonso, gearing up slowly for the big weekend clash, stayed out of sight.
Davidson was fifth quickest in the afternoon.
Alonso completed an installation lap without setting a time in the morning while neither Schumacher nor Massa went out.
The fastest race driver in the morning was Toro Rosso's American Scott Speed in sixth with Spyker MF1's Dutch driver Christijan Albers following behind.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, Schumacher's replacement next year at Ferrari and last year's winner in Japan from 17th on the starting grid, was 10th fastest with Spanish team-mate Pedro de la Rosa eighth.
"Nothing really happened due to the wet weather conditions," Raikkonen said.
"There was no use doing anything other than some set-up and tyre evaluation work as the track conditions were not ideal for detailed results."
Japan GP statistics...
Resumè of past three races in Japan...
2005 - Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren
Kimi Raikkonen produced one of Formula One's great drives, starting 17th and overtaking Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella on the last lap for victory. Renault's newly-crowned world champion Fernando Alonso was outstanding, twice overtaking Ferrari's Michael Schumacher to finish third after starting 16th.
2004 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
Michael Schumacher romped to victory from pole position after a typhoon blew out Saturday qualifying, forcing it to be held on Sunday. His win was a record-equalling 15th of the season for Ferrari. Brother Ralf was second for Williams, his best result of the year. Briton Jenson Button was third for BAR.
2003 - Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari
Michael Schumacher needed just one point to be champion for the sixth time and he got it, finishing eighth after an early collision with BAR's Takuma Sato left him last. Rubens Barrichello held off McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, whose title hopes depended on winning and hoping Schumacher did not score.
The circuit
The Suzuka circuit, built in 1962 as a test track for Honda motorcycles, has hosted grands prix since 1987. Shaped in a figure-of-eight, the Suzuka circuit offers long, fast corners, 310kph straights and short testing curves.